Tag Archive | vest

WAL Official start today….

I was late, however, due to our snowfall and power failure. The Great Guys from PUD got out there in the cold and snow and got it back working in just a few hours!

I have some pictures to share, unfortunately my camera decided it it needs a battery recharge this morning of all times! lol But I posted things yesterday so you should all be busy weaving squares toward this dress.

Just thought I’d share a couple other outfits I’ve woven for your inspiration and, hopefully, enjoyment!

This one is an attempt to weave a version of Molly’s meet outfit. It used the 4×6″ Multi for both the top and the skirt.

Addy is wearing one using the 4×6 and the 2″ Multi looms. I think this yarn is Caron’s Simply Soft. It’s on the heavy side for these looms but not bad. It’s also brighter colors than it shows here. I called it Festive.

And a Hoodie for Dean. This one used the Quilt Weaver looms. I gave it those Kangaroo pockets and a zipper. I’m afraid this hoodie is probably more for warm than fashion. For that, I think it needs to be black and have a deeper hood, for hiding in. It has knitted cuffs and edgings. I should have shortened the sleeves as well.

Kanani is wearing a cropped version. Her cargo pants are also woven. She has way too much hair for the hood so it is just a collar for her. Here she is weaving on her ridged heddle loom. She is weaving a small afghan using some textured stash yarns.

There’s lots more. Once you get going with this you can easily design your own and they can also be embellished in anyway you like using knit, crochet; you can embroider or add beads. Sky’s the limit.

February again…

Feb18

But don’t worry, it’s not spring yet! More snow in the forecast on Tuesday and through the week it sounds like. I’m okay with that. We have gotten quite a bit of precip this winter but are still not caught up with the last dozen or more years of drought. Garden started to thaw a bit this week with the highs in the upper 40’s but there’s still plenty of time for that , too.

I’ve done little yarn things this winter, knitted myself a scrap vest. This is all the scraps and snippets saved from projects over the last decade, probably. Tied together in an overhand knot. Will that hold? Ask me in a few years of wearing it!

And played with a few weaving techniques, that’s about it. Just did this one yesterday. From a photo posted on the pin loom facebook group.

Randy is planning our trip to Utah next month to take part in the Great Basin Fiber Arts Fair, Friday April 28 and Saturday April 29
The Legacy Event Center – Farmington, Utah. I’ll be teaching a basic class on the 4 inch Multi loom, we’ll make a little needle book to learn plain weave and a texture pattern or two. The other class is the dishcloth class on the 10.5″ Quit Weaver Square. We’ll start with plain weave and see how far we get. The class schedule hasn’t been posted yet but should be soon–keep checking!

We’ll be at the Black Sheep Gathering, June 23, 24, & 25 and the Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival, October 14 & 15. Both in Albany, OR. I think we’ll also be at Lambtown in Dixon, CA, Oct 7 & 8. We’re also looking at Fiber Fusion Northwest in Monroe, Washington. June 4 & 5. Maybe. Sounds like a lot, beginning to feel like a lot as well. I think I’m getting old as these affairs are a lot more stressful than they used to be. I suppose it’s good for me. At least that’s what Himself keeps telling! lol

Did I mention that we can almost see the lake again? Yes, indeed, it has been coming up rapidly this winter. Authorities warn us not to expect it to fill this spring, tho, Partly it appears, because they have other uses for the water up here. I don’t mind sharing but it would be nice if we had some lake. Our local businesses mostly rely on that body of water to draw the tourists that they rely on to stay in business. We’ve lost a few already who weren’t able to tough it out. That’s rough on us all.

Way in the back, that thin line of blue is the lake. The rock piles (a remnant of the mining days) show the river wending its way to join that pool. This is the view across the Lake(bottom) from Trinity Center where we had tp go last month to get internet and cell service from the Verizon tower there.

And my little Fox friend is still coming for dinner each evening. He doesn’t get much, I want him to still hunt but while the snow was still frozen on the ground hunting was difficult and I wanted to keep him around. He’s my best mouser!

I guess that’s all for now. I hope it’s not too Winter where ever you are. Spring isn’t far and we can all be outdoors grubbing in the dirt again!

Carrots & Radishes

More Clothing…

Dec15

Weavers have asked for more so here’s another. This was the first pull over that worked really well. It was back in the Olden Days, when I was spinning my own yarn. This was the first whole Jacob fleece I bought and spun up. I used the colors as they came. I’m not sure what became of it, I wasn’t able to find it this morning to take new photo so this is kind of fuzzy. I used the 7″ Quilt Weaver square, we were only making two sizes of looms back them the 7 & the 12″. You can see that the sleeves are a bit odd. If I make this one again I’ll use the sewing machine and modify the sleeve where I drew the red line on the chart. I was scared of cut and sew back then, too, I guess! But it’s a easy one to make and you can use any nice yarn. You can also use cut and sew to modify the neckline if you wanted a different one.

Progress! No- really!

Apr20

I am just one shy of halfway done weaving my blocks. Counted 11 today. Yeah, not nearly one a day, but I think I denied that possibility right from the start. But now that Baseball season has started I will probably get more done as I can do that and listen to the game at the same time! I think they are looking good (the squares, if not the team) but also they seem to have a little more draw-up than I figured on so I’ll likely end up needing more squares. Which may mean some creative coloring in order to do it since I have a limited amount of this yarn. Well, I have never objected to colorful so we’ll see.

I’ve up dated this blog so that I can post videos on it but so far have not been able to make that work. In part, I’m sure because of my very slow connection here in the backwoods. I’m going to try again today or tomorrow. A nice summer day, I think people are going to want to be outdoors instead of sitting by the fire with the internet so maybe there’ll be a little extra bandwidth for me!

If I can get this working I’ll have all sorts of things to share with you, we can weave together at last… so keep your fingers x-ed for me!!

UFO

Aug6

Picking up an abandoned project. It’s 4 colors of Lopi. Can’t remember where it came from, a swap, maybe? Anyway, I think it was supposed to be a vest and that is what it is going to be now. Haven’t had a new vest in awhile. It was lovely out on the deck this morning so I will weave and sip until the sun makes it over the firs.

July & hot again!

Jul8

But I am still weaving, of course. Took the computer to town yesterday to get it cleaned up and running properly again (I hope!) And Boy! Was it hot! Really glad to get back in my mountains! I thought we were hot up here the last few days but I was wrong! lol

Anyway, I have been working on a new patchwork yoke using some very pretty yarn I bought at Black Sheep Gathering. Trying something new. It’s taking awhile but I think it’s going to be pretty. It is inspired by this one.

This is what I have so far. The 1st one is a sketch to give me a idea where I want to go. The 2nd is what I have embroidered so far. There’s a lot more needed on it. And, of course, it changes as I work. That always seems to happen. The yarn is super-wash sock yarn and, you know by now that I love my washing machine, so I have done swatches that I’ve washed in the machine. I am using some of my big stash of needlepoint yarns for the embroidery and have also tested them in the machine. They don’t seem to shrink much, either, tho both fulled just enough to look good.

So that’s about all that’s happening here just now. Well, I am also designing a doll dress for our August WAL on Ravelry and trying to keep the garden watered. We turned off most of the auto watering when we got back from the trip so we can have a little more control as some places in this yard don’t need watering all summer while other places dry up almost immediately. Give us something to do! lol

Speaking of which, I have some loom shipping to do so better get on with it. Hope your summer is not too hot! If it is, stay indoors and weave!

Fair Season again.

Jun3

First it’s Big Sky and then the Black Sheep Gathering. I think we’re ready! I have all my ‘stuff’ for teaching packed in the trailer but I don’t have any idea if I have anyone signed up!

But meantime I am working of several projects, as usual. My hat was a pretty big hit so I am reweaving it to be able to write up the pattern. I have also been looking at hat wire, hoping to find ready-made rings but so far it looks like they have to be made to fit. I haven’t decided if I want to take that on. I am thinking maybe a kit with yarn , pattern, and wire. But on the other hand the design as it stand now takes 5 different looms so I’m pretty sure some of the interest will be modified by that number. I may try my hand at redesigning it to use less. If you haven’t seen it on Ravelry or facebook, here it is.

And the class, if it happens, is a workshop discussing how to make clothing with your loom. I emphasize the singular Loom as you really can use whatever loom you have. We all know that Hazel Rose Looms are the best choice of course, but if you have one of the inferior ones , they will also work. We’ll also do some weaving along with a different methods of joining. I am planning to learn as much as I teach.

Anyway, if you need to try us this month we may be slow to respond, internet on the road being sketchy at times. Please be patient, we’ll be home between fairs. And if you can get to Big Sky or Black Sheep Gathering I hope you’ll come by and see us!

More of the same…

Apr25

Still weaving the blue squares for the next top and working on things to share with the weavers in my proposed workshops this summer. I need a production crew! lol I have so may ideas that will never get anywhere as there is just not enough time to weave them all. Well, you know what I mean, I’m pretty sure we all have that same problem, if problem it be. I’m trying to sketch them out as I dream them up but am fallen behind in that, too.

But meantime I am about to try the layout again on this one. I think I likely still have squares to weave but must be making a little progress. We have ball games most every night now and that’s my weaving time. The Giants even won last night! Beat LA! Yeah! lol

This stuff is a little difficult to weave because of the little loops in the yarn. I get the needle threaded though them instead of over and under. I did find a fatter needle that barely fits between the pins but it has a wider blunt end and so does not pick up the loops as easily. That helps it go a little faster.

And you know it is gardening season again. Randy picked up pea seed in town yesterday and if it does not rain again (what’s chances!) I hope to get the first ones planted tomorrow. I got the bed ready last week. My fall planted cabbages are growing now, too. I am told that they won’t make heads but will just bolt as soon as it gets warm. I hope not, that was the idea of planting them late last fall, to give them a early start this spring. I have only grown them once, this past spring so am not very experienced with their druthers.

The peaches bloomed in the rain so am not over confident about my peach crop this year. The apples are just starting leaves, so they may have a chance. It’s almost time for rhubarb but we can find no sign of Randy’s asparagus. I’m thinking of digging up the peonies and iris and planting tomatoes in that bed. I might make an iris border but the peonies are a waste of space. They make pretty flowers for a short time which all have weak stems and fall over. I like flowers who can take care of themselves. The iris, gloriosa daisies, pansies, marigold, and zinnias, day lilies. bee balm.. there’s lots of them I have one peony in a wine barrel that does fine. It can stay. Well, that’s a lot of work so it may not happen anyway.

But hey! If you are hunting for the perfect place to spend your summer vacation I have just the one for you! Check this one out!

http://www.trinityalpsrealty.com/pre_search_trinity_center/results-125246p/detail-12R177534

In the meantime…

Apr19

I am still weaving the blue yarn for the nest project but meantime was rummaging though my kitchen trash bag full of this and that, experiments, trials aborted projects, you know, you all have them, and found these squares woven in a muddy brown. So I put them to work as a coast for the girls. I’m calling this one Puddle Jumper because of the color! There was a 12″ square of the same yarn which I managed to turn into a sort of baggy tam. I frogged a couple of extra squares so I could weave the band. I am quite please with the way this spur of the moment project turned out! It’s spring I think but still quite chilly here! And I think it looks good with Felicity’s red hair.

A customer, Melissa R, gave me permission to post her project here also. She is doing some really cute tapestries and is very good at it. Love the blanket waving in the sunny breeze on the clothesline! What a sweet homey touch! She’s done an excellent job of finishing and hanging her work, too!

Done at last!

Apr6

The sleeves are longer and looser than I had in mind but all in all I am pretty pleased with this one! Already planning the next one! Raining and gloomy today but managed an indoor picture that isn’t too bad, except for the old bag I had modeling it! Wish I had known about this when I was young enough to wear some of the things I would have liked to make! Well, I can make them for Madelyn I guess! For those of you doing this, I think this yarn would look good sewn like this and sleeveless if you can wear it without. The colors and the texture of the assembly method give it all the decoration it needs. I ended up sewing a facing of commercial fabric for the neckline, keeping it simple.